City council got their first look at a feasibility study for a new aquatic centre in Timmins, with additional information included regarding new ice sheets on Tuesday evening at city hall.
The aquatic centre is controversial amongst area residents for several reasons, but primarily the affordability aspect.
Few would argue against the benefits of having modern recreation facilities, but the big question in the council chambers is 'can the city afford it?' without funding from higher levels of government.
In 2014, council approved the study, and the city did in-house assessment of potential sites for a new complex.
The current site, the Archie Dillion Sportsplex was named along with the McIntyre Arena area, Whitney Arena area, a vacant parcel of land on the north section of MacLean Drive,
Also, included in the document was the results of public input wish list.
It included asks such as a pool 25 metres in length with eight official swimming lanes.
A leisure pool with a shallow beach style entry, family change rooms, and modern amenities were also noted.
When the idea of an expanded community recreational facility was brought forth for public input, an indoor walking track and dual sheet ice rink ranked highly.
A thorough analysis of each site was presented to council, as well as an overall ranking of feasibility by the consultant, Jonathan Hack, of Sierra Planning and Management.
The current facility at the Sportsplex is an obvious candidate. However with many components of its vital infrastructure nearing the end of its life cycle, some councillors and members of the public feel a new build could be more cost effective.
'The existing aquatic facility is in need of a significant update' leads off the section containing an assessment of the Archie Dillion pool.
Currently, it does not meet code and industry standards in several areas.
While expansion on the existing building is 'achievable' it could become 'cost prohibitive' and in fact, building a new complex on the site is 'expected to be more cost-effective' as it read in the document.
The results contained in the report can be summarized as follows.
| POTENTIAL SITE | PROS | CONS |
| Archie Dillon Sportsplex - Current site |
- Location is close to schools and residential areas - Potential to acquire lands owned by school boards for future development - Is near city centre - Best use of an existing asset |
- Old mine shaft in vicinity - Bounded by residential and wooded areas on northeast side - Expansion on current building could be very problematic and costly |
| Whitney Arena in Porcupine |
- Good visibility and highway access - Adjacent to Northern College - Capacity to accommodate development
|
- Few commercial or accommodations facilities nearby - Distant from central population |
| McIntyre Arena in Schumacher | - High visibility near major thoroughfare |
- Site is very constrained due to existing building and nearby lakes - Sensitive lands on west side limit development - Removal of road would be required - Solution for Timmins Chamber of Commerce office would be required |
| MacLean Drive - Vacant Land |
- Area has high capacity for development
|
- Not in a visible area - Area is primarily residential and not suited for a major facility - Landscape is characterized by woodland and rock. Clearing would be a major cost. |
| Former site of the Hollinger Golf Course |
- The space is there - Parking would not be an issue |
- Site condition is highly questionable - Area characterized by mine tailings and ongoing reclamation efforts - Land not currently in city ownership - Not a prominent location |
| Hollinger Park | - Only central urban location |
- Would eliminate a major recreational area - Insufficient parking |
| Highway 655 - near Gillies Lake |
- Good access and high prominence - Area zoning is compatible with development - Near existing recreational areas and trails |
- Site soil contamination is undocumented - Currently not transit accessible |
When looking at the possibility of creating a dual ice rink facility, the Sportsplex and Whitney Arena offer the only possibilities of reducing total costs by building additions onto the current structures. The expansion of the Archie Dillion Sportsplex site would have Timmins without any public pool facility for a significant period of time, if it is selected.
